Steering apparatus for vessels.



Patented Sept. 2, |902.'l

P. L. ENNUR.

STEERING APPARATUS FOR VESSELS.

(Application tiled Aug. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

YYLA

UNITED STATES PATENT'- OFFICE.

PELLEWLANGFORD ENNOR, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STEERING APPARATUS FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,332, dated September 2, 1902.

Application tiled August 28. 1901. Serial No. 73,580. (No model.) i

To a/ZZ whom, it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, vPELLEW LANGFORD ENNOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco,county of San Francisco,

'and State of California, have invented certainV new and useful Improvements in Steering Apparatus for Vessels; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesaxne, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to certain useful improvements in steering' apparatus for vessels operated by Water or other fluid under Apressure, as hereinafter particularly explained by the aid of drawings forming a part of this specification. l v

My improvements consist inthe combination and arrangement of a pump to produce wa-terpressure, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston to operate the rudder, a controlling-valve to distribute water to the operating-piston, means to operate the valve from a lever or steering wheel, means to provide for the escape of air from the hydraulic cylinder and to relieve the latter from shock or other pressure, also to avoid Aa vacuum therein by reason of the momentum of water escaping thereform, and in other features especially adapted for steamboats navigating narrow and crooked waterways.

The object of my invention is to provide simple self-acting steering-gearing, applicaf ble on vessels o f any kind, complete Within itself and not subject to shock or derangement of the parts by accidents or impediments common in such apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I is a diagrammatic elevation, partially in section, of an improved steering apparatus constructed according to my invention, the parts being illustrated in one plane. Fig. II is an enlarged longitudinal section through the controlling-valve. Fig. III is an enlarged section through an air-escape valve; Fig. IV, a section through a shifting or air-inlet valve, and Fig. V a similar section through a safetyvalve.

In navigating narrow waterways, such as sloughs and bayous,the rudder-gearing is subject to sudden ieversal by the rudders comtions, also by reversing the motion of sternwheel,so that an elasticity of all the parts are required, especially in respect to water-hammer and reversing shocks, and it is to meet ments are directed.

The main cylinder 1 is of the ordinary construction,provided with a piston 2, piston-rod 3, packing-glands 4 at each end, and ports 5, that communicate with the pipes'7 and 8.

The controlling mechanism consists of a cylindrical flanged shell 9, pistons 10 and 12, a piston-rod 13, and passages 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, that communicate, respectively, with the pipes 19, 7, 20, 8, and 2l, as shown in Fig. I, 2O being a supply-pipe from the pump 22, and 19 a return or exhaust pipe to the tank 23.

Hauling. ropes or chains 24 and 25 are connected to the piston-rod 3, pass over the pulleys 26 to shackle-blocks 27, placed in the being attached to the stanchions 29, and thus double the movement of the portion 28 of these ropes 24 and 25.

At each end of the main cylinder 1 I place air-escape Valves 30, that contain buoyant floats 31,preferably made of cork, that when the chamber 32 fills with water rise and close` the escape-passages 33, as shown in Fig. III.

In the head 34 of the main cylinder l or near its end I place common safety-valves 35, that will open outward at some predeter mined pressure adjusted by a screw and spring, as shown in Fig. V, and at 36 and 37 on the pipes 19 and 2l I place snifting or inward-opening valves 38, (shown enlarged in Fig. IV,) the purpose of which will presently be explained.

The controlling-valve is operated bya rack and pinion, as shown in Figs. I and II, ordirectly by a lever, as the circumstances render most convenient. The lever 39, if not accessible in a pilot-house, can be connected to steering-wheel, or the shaft 40 can be set vertically, with a lever or wheel on the top.

The valves 35 are an important part of my invention. on the hydraulic apparatus caused by the ruddcrs, of which there are three, striking on bars on the shore or other obstruction, that ing in contact with bars and other obstruc-4 these peculiar conditions that my improve-V bight of the tiller-ropes 28, one end of these Y' These provide for reverse shocks IOO suddenly reverses the strain and produces shock in the main cylinder 1 unless it is relieved in this manner.

I do not confine myself to the particular arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, for, as will be understood, such arrangement v must in each case depend on the conditions of erection in vessels of various kinds.

The operation is as follows: The pump 22 when`started draws water from the tank 23 mitting Water from the pipe to pass through the chamber 16 and the perforations 42 in the shell 43 and out at the port 15, through the pipe 7, into the chamber -45 of the main cylinder 1, forcing the piston 2 to the right,

` as in Fig. I. At the same time the piston 12 then rise and close the valve.

uncovers the perfor-ations 44 in the passage 17, so waterv contained in the chamber 46 of the main cylinder 1 escapes through the pipes 8, 21, and 19 back to the tank 23, the operation being the same as in the case of any double-acting Iluidengine. The reverse movement is the same, so the tiller can be moved in either direction, and when the controllingvalve is in its central position the piston 2 and the tiller will b'e firmly locked.

In the case of air entering the main cylinder 1 it escapes through the valves 30 until the water reaches the oat 3l, which will If by force of the rudder or from any other cause the water in the chambers 45 or 46 becomes subjected to undue pressure, the safety-valves open and permit the water-to escape down to the normal pressure and then close automatically. When the discharge-water from the main cylinder 1 is rapidly flowing through the pipes '7 or 8 and their connections andthe controlling-valve is suddenly closed or reversed, the

momentum of the escaping water will cause t a vacuum and water-hammer. This I prevent by means of snifting-valves 38, attached at 36 vand 37 on the pipes 19 and 21, that permit the entrance of air, which after entering these pipes is carried into the tank 23 and escapes. In this manner it will be seen that without accumulatore, air vessels, or other supplementary apparatus I am able bythe combination of the valves 30, 35, and 38 to avoid concussion, water-hammer, and like impediments common in hydraulic steeringgearing.

I claim as my invention- In hydraulic steering apparatus, the com-..

bination of a main steering-cylinder provided with air-escape valves 30 and water-escape valves 35, a controlling-cylinder provided with air-inlet valves 38, a force-pump for maintaining pressure in the system, a tank for receiving the circulating liquid, a pipe from the pump to the controlling-cylinder, return-pipes from the controlling-cylinder to the tank, andpipes from the controlling-cylinder to the main steering-cylinder, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PELLEW LANGFORD ENNOR.

Witnesses: Y

ALFRED A. ENQUIs'r, P. W. J. 'LANDER 

